Home & Family Newsletter January 2020

Your kitchen may be the center of the household, and your living room for family fun, but despite all of the comforts around your home, the bathroom is the one place most people can go to for privacy and relaxation. In the morning, this is the place where you prepare for the day ahead and at night it’s the spot where you unwind. Most master bathrooms are a bit more luxurious than bathrooms throughout the rest of the home, but there is always room for improvement. Here are a few ways to outfit your bathroom and feel like royalty:

1.  Heated flooring. What makes it extra difficult to get out of a warm shower on a frigid winter morning? Stepping directly onto a cold floor. Heated flooring makes for more enjoyable winter mornings and evenings, increased relaxation and even helps to heat the room overall.

2.  Double sinks. These days, most master bathrooms come equipped with two sinks to make life a little easier in the morning when everyone is rushing to get ready. If yours doesn’t, this is the first upgrade you should make!

3.  Better lighting. Have you ever done your hair or shaved, only to emerge into natural sunlight and realized you don’t look as put together as you thought? Dull or yellow lighting can make it a hassle to do everyday tasks like putting on makeup. Invest in fixtures that keep the bathroom and mirror well-lit.

4.  Heated towel rack. If heated flooring doesn’t feel like enough, this is also one fixture that can give you the “straight-out-of-the-dryer” warmth you long for when you reach for your towel after a shower or bath.

5.  The little things. So, you’ve got the perfect bathroom, but what about the accessories? Invest in quality towels, luxurious soaps and calming candles to turn your own bathroom into a personal spa. 

Have you made your resolutions for the new year? Typically, a resolution list includes goals that can seem out of reach. For example, you may aim to put a certain amount of money into your savings account, or lose a specific amount of weight. However, most people tend to lose sight of these goals just a few short months into the year. Instead of creating many different goals, a better option may be to make a broader, all-encompassing goal: balance.

Physical Balance

When it comes to diet and exercise, you’ve probably heard the word “balance” more than anywhere else - and with good reason! Rather than beginning the year with unattainable goals of quitting sugar, or exercising five days a week, aim for a more balanced lifestyle. If you eat that extra cookie for lunch, don’t worry! You can pair it with a healthy and nutritious meal for dinner. If you skip the gym to catch a few more hours of sleep, it’s no big deal. Your body needs rest too, and a ten-minute walk after lunch will feel just as good AND set you up for success!

Emotional Balance

Emotions are tough to tackle, but creating a balance in your daily life can help even out the highs and lows that come with simply being a human. Instead of trying to achieve the goal of always ”being positive,” it’s healthier and more attainable to recognize ALL of your emotions and even write them down. For every negative emotion you feel, think of a positive one. It’s can also be helpful to discuss your emotions with other people, rather than holding them in and trying to untangle them alone.

Spiritual Balance

You don’t have to meditate daily or attend every weekly service to feel spiritually fulfilled. Sometimes feeding your spirit is as simple as making sure you make time for yourself and doing something that you love and appreciate. This can mean going for taking a walk in your favorite outdoor spot, cooking your favorite dish or taking a long, relaxing bath without any interruptions. 

Technology has made life a lot easier - we can now order groceries online and pick them up curbside, have food delivered from almost any restaurant, and even order a car to take us wherever we need to go with the touch of a button. However, these new conveniences also come with their own set of dangers, and require certain precautions and mindfulness.

Rideshare services in particular can quickly turn dangerous if the driver has ulterior motives. Although companies like Uber and Lyft have restrictions in place and a detailed application process, they aren’t meeting with every driver in person for a face-to-face interview, or even keeping up with them after they are contracted. Whether you’re using these services to get to work, school or home after a night out, keep these safety tips in mind:

1.  Always tell a friend or family member where you are going. Letting another person know your destination will ensure that someone will know if you don’t arrive. If you are ordering the ride for someone else who has been drinking, it’s always a good idea to go with them and make sure they arrive safely.

2.  Pay attention to your surroundings. From the moment you order the ride, to the moment you reach your destination, pay attention. Does the car and drive that arrived match the one on your rideshare app? Is the driver following the mapped route, or taking any shortcuts? Has the driver unexpectedly cancelled the ride? If you notice anything fishy, exit the vehicle asap, alert the authorities and report the driver.

3.  Be cautious when the ride is over. If your drive tries to contact you after the ride is over, or finds you on another social media platform, report them rather than responding or engaging with them. 

Recipe Courtesy of: Tasty

Ingredients

·  1 ½ lb baby potato, red and/or yellow

·  8 small carrots, snapped in half

·  12 pearl onions, peeled, with ends cut off

·  3 ½ lb beef chuck roast

·  salt, to taste

·  pepper, to taste

·  1 tablespoon cornstarch

·  2 tablespoons water

·  2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

·  2 sprigs fresh rosemary

·  2 sprigs fresh thyme

·  1 baguette, cut into 5-inch (13 cm) pieces, optional

Directions

1.  In a slow cooker, add the potatoes, carrots, and onions to make a base for the meat.

2.  Lay the chuck roast on top of the veggies and season with salt and pepper on both sides.

3.  Wash your hands, because mess.

4.  Mix cornstarch and water until well combined and pour close to the edge so it gets down to the veggies.

5.  Pour Worcestershire sauce directly on top of the meat.

6.  Cover with the slow-cooker lid and cook on high for 5 hours.

7.  Place the rosemary and thyme sprigs on top of the meat and cook for 1 more hour.

8.  Remove rosemary and thyme.

9.  Using a fork, shred the meat and serve by itself with the veggies, or on top of bread for a sandwich! The juices from the bottom of the slow cooker make for an AMAZING dipping sauce!